Complex internal rearrangement processes triggered by electron transfer to acetic acid

We present negative ion formation from collisions of 100 eV neutral potassium atoms with acetic acid (CH₃COOH) and its deuterated analogue molecules (CH₃COOD, CD₃COOH). From the negative ion time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectra, OH^- is the main fragment detected accounting on average for more than 25% of the total anion yield. The complex internal rearrangement processes triggered by electron transfer to acetic acid have been evaluated with the help of theoretical calculations at the DFT levels explaining the fragmentation channel yielding OH^-. (paper)